Factors influencing the profitability of retaining and feeding cull cows beyond culling were investigated. First, a price response function is estimated using 19 years of monthly price data as reported by Agricultural Market Services (AMS). Net returns are then estimated using data from a three year cull cow feeding experiment conducted at The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and used to examine the relative effect of various factors on net returns. Results showed the importance of average daily gain increases across feeding periods while feeding system is also an important contributing factor to net returns.